Imus anyone?

[Dolla Bill]

I'm surprised that no one has brought this up yet. I don't agree with what was said, but to call him blatantly racist? That's going over the top.

[bfauble83]

I'm surprised there wasn't already a thread about this...i'm soooo tired of hearing ppl on the radio/tv talk about it.

[lakewinola]

I think he is an idiot, and he does have a history of making obsene "jokes" like this...

[redskin_rich]

There probably hasn't been a thread about it because of the massive media ***Spencored*** storm and this has been the only place to not have to hear/read/talk about it. Until now that is.

Agree with Lake, Imus is a clown and has a history of making stupid remarks like this. He probably doesn't deserve all the crap he is getting but he is a tool and I can't muster any sympathy for him.

[dj_stouty]

Agree with Lake, Imus is a clown and has a history of making stupid remarks like this. He probably doesn't deserve all the crap he is getting but he is a tool and I can't muster any sympathy for him.

I agree. No sympathy from me.

[CNYSkinFan]

The funny thing is it seems as imus is really getting in trouble for the past remarks of not only him but his co-hosts as well.

Imus has brought this on himself. He may not be overtly racist, but he certainly allows a culture on his show where these kind of remarks are allowed. That says something at least.

Time to go quietly into the night....

[akhhorus]

I'm betting this is Greaseman Redux. When he said that moronic thing about Lauryn Hill, his rating were dying and I suspect he did it as basically a PR stunt to get rating. Imus' rating are dying also, and I suspect he said this as a stunt.

[AliBabba]

I've never liked him and this is just one more reason that I don't listen to his crap show

[hail2skins]

I'm not buying the "he said it as a stunt" idea because of the other ridiculuous comments he's made. Everyone is focused on Imus and rightfully so but the other guy should be getting heat over this as well.

I was glad there was no thread before on this subject on hR. I kept looking for it but it never showed up til now.

[shally]

I'm not buying the "he said it as a stunt" idea because of the other ridiculuous comments he's made. Everyone is focused on Imus and rightfully so but the other guy should be getting heat over this as well.

I was glad there was no thread before on this subject on hR. I kept looking for it but it never showed up til now.

just goes to show, if you stay on the air long enough saying stupid things, sooner or later you are going to get in trouble.. he just needs to retire and spew in private

[AGibbsGirl]

No one should ever say these sort of things about women
ever
period

It is not ok for old-fart white men or young, African-American rappers.
No double standards on name calling or racial slurs
The lack of respect for women is appalling at all levels

[CarMike]

No one should ever say these sort of things about women
ever
period

It is not ok for old-fart white men or young, African-American rappers.
No double standards on name calling or racial slurs
The lack of respect for women is appalling at all levels
Agreed.

[Biggie]

Ok, I agree with everyone here that what Imus said was beyond idiotic and inappropriate. However, does ten seconds worth of air time and a conversation between a man who's been on the radio too long and his executive producer merit three days worth of full news coverage?
I mean, honestly. They need to just fire Imus, have him issue an apology, and be done with it. We're in the middle of two wars going on, we're on the verge of a healthcare crisis, there's a ridiculous budget deficit, and the most important news out there is this?

[BurgundyNGold]

I don't listen to Imus because I can't stand 42 minutes of commercials per hour. I'm pretty much off of all radio for that reason. But when I did listen to the AM radio, I would tune in occasionally as I dodged commercials. Back then, he used to have characters say most of the offensive stuff. Like George Patten or Richard Nixon. I think he did that on purpose as he playfully admonished the characters for whatever derogatory thing they were saying.

One thing I can't help but ask the forum is which part of the "nappy headed hos" comment do they find more offensive? He got two swipes in there, you know.

[ryflan47]

Nobody should be saying crap like that anyway, but people get away with saying it all of the time. There should at least be some consistency with how these matters are handled.

I hate Imus regardless.

[Patrick]

I'm not buying the "he said it as a stunt" idea because of the other ridiculuous comments he's made. Everyone is focused on Imus and rightfully so but the other guy should be getting heat over this as well.

I was glad there was no thread before on this subject on hR. I kept looking for it but it never showed up til now.

I'm with you there my friend ............ Tune him out is the best thing anyone can do with this clown. Bad ratings will take care of the rest!

[remaxjon]

fired because of a joke? Where have you gone first amendment?

Imus's show was cancelled on msnbc just before his teleathon today. Because some where offended by his comment MSNBC decided to take him off the air today the day of his telethon which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for kids. BRILLIANT!!!


Here is a great article by Jason Whitlock
http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html




I have never listened to Imus so I have no idea if his show is good or bad but I will always support the right for people to say what they want even if it does offend me. :Peace:

[RedskinsDave]

Thank God they stopped him from raising money for sick kids. I hope they go after Jerry Lewis next.

[CNYSkinFan]

fired because of a joke? Where have you gone first amendment?

Imus's show was cancelled on msnbc just before his teleathon today. Because some where offended by his comment MSNBC decided to take him off the air today the day of his telethon which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for kids. BRILLIANT!!!


Here is a great article by Jason Whitlock
http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html




I have never listened to Imus so I have no idea if his show is good or bad but I will always support the right for people to say what they want even if it does offend me. :Peace:
I am bout the biggest supporter of the first amendment you will ever find jon, but you and others simply just dont understand it.

The First Amendment only protects you from criminal and civil actions in a court of law, not under your employment. The First Amendment does not protect your private employment. The First Amendment does not give you a "Say Whatever You Want Consequence Free" card.

You may say it was just a joke, but it was a joke that went over the airwaves of his employer. He is judged on his performance on the job. This remark caused controversey and embarrasment to one of his employers. That employer decided that they no longer wanted to have him represent them, which appearing on their broadcast implies.

Please don't bring out the first amendment.

[TonyStewart]

I am bout the biggest supporter of the first amendment you will ever find jon, but you and others simply just dont understand it.

The First Amendment only protects you from criminal and civil actions in a court of law, not under your employment. The First Amendment does not protect your private employment. The First Amendment does not give you a "Say Whatever You Want Consequence Free" card.

You may say it was just a joke, but it was a joke that went over the airwaves of his employer. He is judged on his performance on the job. This remark caused controversey and embarrasment to one of his employers. That employer decided that they no longer wanted to have him represent them, which appearing on their broadcast implies.

Please don't bring out the first amendment.

I agree with you for the most part but where MSNBC got it wrong was to hire this guy in the first place and not realize his title of "shock jock." I mean did they realize the crappy things he had said before and why would that change.

on a more personal note: He is probably at the end of his career even before this but I still think it is funny how MSNBC decided to fire him after a few days of bad publicity. It is also fun to watch most liberals jump on a fellow liberal when most moderates & conservatives say "what did you expect?" I think Imus depp down said these things just so we could see Jackson & Sharpton run their mouths.

[remaxjon]

I am bout the biggest supporter of the first amendment you will ever find jon, but you and others simply just dont understand it.

The First Amendment only protects you from criminal and civil actions in a court of law, not under your employment. The First Amendment does not protect your private employment. The First Amendment does not give you a "Say Whatever You Want Consequence Free" card.

You may say it was just a joke, but it was a joke that went over the airwaves of his employer. He is judged on his performance on the job. This remark caused controversey and embarrasment to one of his employers. That employer decided that they no longer wanted to have him represent them, which appearing on their broadcast implies.

Please don't bring out the first amendment.

I was a government major in college and at one point in time a high school government teacher so I do understand the first amendment and understand it well. I'm not going to argue with you over the first amendment because we are not going to agree. Lets just say its my opinion that this has been so blown out of proportion that its laughable and in the end only the kids Imus was trying to raise money for suffered.

[AliBabba]

I am bout the biggest supporter of the first amendment you will ever find jon, but you and others simply just dont understand it.

The First Amendment only protects you from criminal and civil actions in a court of law, not under your employment. The First Amendment does not protect your private employment. The First Amendment does not give you a "Say Whatever You Want Consequence Free" card.

You may say it was just a joke, but it was a joke that went over the airwaves of his employer. He is judged on his performance on the job. This remark caused controversey and embarrasment to one of his employers. That employer decided that they no longer wanted to have him represent them, which appearing on their broadcast implies.

Please don't bring out the first amendment.
Also, this has nothing to do with the first amendment anyhow as this was based on the only thing corporate decisions are made on -- money.

MSNBC, specifically Imus, lost huge sponsors like GM and American Express over this deal. They didn't lose them b/c GM and AMEX don't understand the first amendment. They lost the sponsors because people don't want to associate their product with Imus right now because -- they would lose MONEY.

So in an effort to make MONEY and to not lose further corporate sponsor MONEY, Imus was canned. I for one am happy cuz that guy sucked and so did his show. Good riddance.

Also, Imus is the posterboy for a face made for radio.

[TonyStewart]

Also, this has nothing to do with the first amendment anyhow as this was based on the only thing corporate decisions are made on -- money.

MSNBC, specifically Imus, lost huge sponsors like GM and American Express over this deal. They didn't lose them b/c GM and AMEX don't understand the first amendment. They lost the sponsors because people don't want to associate their product with Imus right now because -- they would lose MONEY.

So in an effort to make MONEY and to not lose further corporate sponsor MONEY, Imus was canned. I for one am happy cuz that guy sucked and so did his show. Good riddance.

Also, Imus is the posterboy for a face made for radio.

Everything you say is completely correct and the last part is an understatement on your part.

[CNYSkinFan]

I was a government major in college and at one point in time a high school government teacher so I do understand the first amendment and understand it well. I'm not going to argue with you over the first amendment because we are not going to agree. Lets just say its my opinion that this has been so blown out of proportion that its laughable and in the end only the kids Imus was trying to raise money for suffered.

The First amendment of the constitution reads thusly:


Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress (http://www.usconstitution.net/glossary.html#REDRESS) of grievances.




Notice it says Congress...not buisness...not social clubs....it is meant to protect the citizenry from the overreach of the government...not private enterprise.

Political affiliation and speach however is covered under non-discrimination laws throughout the nation that cover private enterprise. However time and time again it only covers actions taken or speach that occured outside of the person's employment. However many companies have morality caluses to get around some of this. Employment is considered voluntary, not compulsory so rarely will you ever win a case for violating those morality clauses. But I digress....

Imus did this on company tiome in his primary role with the company. Free speach just does not apply, period.

[ryflan47]

"I'm not touching that with a 10-foot pole"

[28thegreat]

Just my two cents here...not sure their even worth that. Imus was wrong. Period. I understand the criticism of him and, for the most part, I agree with it. However, I am disturbed by the trend that is emerging in our country regarding a new level of "political correctness" and what I feel is an increased sensitivity that is not necessarily warranted. Imus is a sixty-six year old radio shock jock. He's not worth all this fuss. I've had lots of people say mean things to me in my life. Some of them rather painful. But at the end of the day the old adage holds true. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will only hurt me if I let them." (Or something like that.) The best way to put Imus in his place is for these ladies at Rutgers to prove him wrong with their excellence - both on the basketball court and in the court of life. From what I understand, they do so. To make more of Imus' words may in fact give more creedence to them than they ever deserve.

Again, just my two cents worth. I'm done now.

[WarEagle]

I was watching Imus the morning he made the remark, and it went right over my head. But when the sidekick made the comment comparing the Rutgers team with the Toronto Raptors, I cracked up.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

Just my two cents here...not sure their even worth that. Imus was wrong. Period. I understand the criticism of him and, for the most part, I agree with it. However, I am disturbed by the trend that is emerging in our country regarding a new level of "political correctness" and what I feel is an increased sensitivity that is not necessarily warranted. Imus is a sixty-six year old radio shock jock. He's not worth all this fuss. I've had lots of people say mean things to me in my life. Some of them rather painful. But at the end of the day the old adage holds true. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will only hurt me if I let them." (Or something like that.) The best way to put Imus in his place is for these ladies at Rutgers to prove him wrong with their excellence - both on the basketball court and in the court of life. From what I understand, they do so. To make more of Imus' words may in fact give more creedence to them than they ever deserve.

Again, just my two cents worth. I'm done now.
Smart post. A lot of people who we see and hear everyday discussing this topic should read your post.

[Biggie]

Just my two cents here...not sure their even worth that. Imus was wrong. Period. I understand the criticism of him and, for the most part, I agree with it. However, I am disturbed by the trend that is emerging in our country regarding a new level of "political correctness" and what I feel is an increased sensitivity that is not necessarily warranted. Imus is a sixty-six year old radio shock jock. He's not worth all this fuss. I've had lots of people say mean things to me in my life. Some of them rather painful. But at the end of the day the old adage holds true. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will only hurt me if I let them." (Or something like that.) The best way to put Imus in his place is for these ladies at Rutgers to prove him wrong with their excellence - both on the basketball court and in the court of life. From what I understand, they do so. To make more of Imus' words may in fact give more creedence to them than they ever deserve.

Again, just my two cents worth. I'm done now.

You said exactly what I was saying before, but so much better.

[redskin_rich]

Does anyone else think the Rutgers coach and team are playing the whole thing way too heavy? I'm not trying to defend Imus in any way but seeing the Rutgers team saying that their dreams have been crushed and so on, is over the top, IMO.
Some idiot disparaged you on an ignorant level, on a show that is not ranked in the top ten anywhere in the nation. Now he has paid the price with his livelihood and been ostracized. Let it go, geez, I bet they have heard worse in opponents arenas.

[akhhorus]

Does anyone else think the Rutgers coach and team are playing the whole thing way too heavy? I'm not trying to defend Imus in any way but seeing the Rutgers team saying that their dreams have been crushed and so on, is over the top, IMO.

I think Whitlock said she went from victim to shameless shill quickly. The players had some dignity, the coach was trying to recruit imo.

[WarEagle]

Does anyone else think the Rutgers coach and team are playing the whole thing way too heavy? I'm not trying to defend Imus in any way but seeing the Rutgers team saying that their dreams have been crushed and so on, is over the top, IMO.
Some idiot disparaged you on an ignorant level, on a show that is not ranked in the top ten anywhere in the nation. Now he has paid the price with his livelihood and been ostracized. Let it go, geez, I bet they have heard worse in opponents arenas.

Of course they are. We're all familiar with the life cycle of these kinds of racial eruptions. The next step is monetary compensation from MSNBC and CBS radio to speed the healing. A classic street corner shakedown.

[akhhorus]

Of course they are. We're all familiar with the life cycle of these kinds of racial eruptions. The next step is monetary compensation from MSNBC and CBS radio to speed the healing. A classic street corner shakedown.

I've never heard of a corporation paying people who were called racist names on the radio by one of their employees. Do you have any examples?

[redskin_rich]

I think Whitlock said she went from victim to shameless shill quickly. The players had some dignity, the coach was trying to recruit imo.
I've criticized Whitlock in the past and accused him of being a sensationalist but I have to agree with him and give him his props for being the only journalist, I've seen, willing to tell it like it is. He says things that people don't want to hear and whether he is right or wrong, it's refreshing in this day and age.

[redskin_rich]

Of course they are. We're all familiar with the life cycle of these kinds of racial eruptions. The next step is monetary compensation from MSNBC and CBS radio to speed the healing. A classic street corner shakedown.
:doh: I'm not insinuating anything along those lines. That is ridiculous.
All I was saying saying was that they were playing the 'oh, poor me' bit, too heavy. There wasn't any damage done to these girls from some crass remark by an old fool, that hardly anybody considered relevant anyway.

[WarEagle]

:doh: I'm not insinuating anything along those lines. That is ridiculous.
All I was saying saying was that they were playing the 'oh, poor me' bit, too heavy. There wasn't any damage done to these girls from some crass remark by an old fool, that hardly anybody considered relevant anyway.

Well, in the next few days when MSNBC and CBS throw money at the "victims," I'll post a link for you.

[akhhorus]

Well, in the next few days when MSNBC and CBS throw money at the "victims," I'll post a link for you.

For what? They don't have a lawsuit. And has this ever happened before?

[redskin_rich]

Well, in the next few days when MSNBC and CBS throw money at the "victims," I'll post a link for you.
Even if the networks do make a donation, it won't be because of some ochestrated shakedown by Rutgers women basketball team.
This whole deal blew up in the news and (IMO) the coach of Rutgers wanted to be sure to get the sympathetic backing of America, so she laid the drama on. But it wasn't a money grab. It was an attention grab. Rutgers will probably get lots of coverage for at least a year out of this.

[TonyStewart]

For what? They don't have a lawsuit. And has this ever happened before?
I dont see it happening and if that type of thing truly has happened then it has never been reported.

[dj_stouty]

If you thought terrestrial radio was bad yesterday...wait until today and ever after.

Radio personalities will definitely bring it down a notch, for fear of saying the wrong thing and getting the same fate as Imus. I'm sure the watchdogs will be listening very carefully to the radio right now.

Just another reason (among a long list of reasons) why sattelitte radio is so much better...

[PennSkinsFan]

I think they should clamp down on Al Sharpton's sometimes questionable comments, Jesse jackson never paid for some his off the wall remarks, and what abotu the whole thing with drug induced, sexually explicit and sickening rap lyrics? I am not going to sit here and defend Imus, but ya knwo what, there is a whole lot worse going out there on deaf ears.

Personally, I see Imus getting a big deal with either XM or Sirius or Imus being the first post-merger big time deal with satellite radio. Imus isn't done yet. There is too mcuh anger over his ouster, i heard it all morning on CSPAN and ABC talk. There is alto of anger over how far this has gone and by whom it was brought about. I am not Imus fan, but even less of a Sharptona dn Jesse Jackson fans, two of the nation's biggest hypocrites.

Again, what Imus did was stunning and dead wrong. But the treatment he received isn't comparable to treatement others have gotten, like Sharpton and Jackson. Imus owed an apology to the Rutgers basketball team and fans, and that is it.

[Spence]

I don't think Imus is a racist. He's worse. He's a non-racist who is trying to appeal to racists for the betterment of his career. Those jokes are told on his show -- and have been for many, many years -- to appeal to racists in his audience. Imus told Mike Wallace of '60 Minutes' that he hired his producer, Bernard McGuirk -- who is a racist -- "to tell nigger jokes." That's what Imus said himself. [He later complained that what he said to Wallace was off the record, but he still said it and meant it.]

Personally, I prefer a good old fashioned racist to someone like Imus. At least you know where the racists stand and they are honest about themselves. Imus is a guy who deliberately appeals to racists because he wants their money even though he doesn't share their views. To me, that's worse.

[lakewinola]

Again, what Imus did was stunning and dead wrong. But the treatment he received isn't comparable to treatement others have gotten, like Sharpton and Jackson. Imus owed an apology to the Rutgers basketball team and fans, and that is it.

Would you still have a job if you refered to a client in the same manner that Imus did?

[PennSkinsFan]

Would you still have a job if you refered to a client in the same manner that Imus did?

Why does Jackson, Sharpton and all these rappers still get press coverage when they are clearly as racist as you get? I'm not gonna defend Imus because what he said was repugnant, but I just don't liek the media attention that came out of it generated by jackson and Sharpton, two gusy that are just as bad, and many would argue, worse than Imus could ever be.

[28thegreat]

Would you still have a job if you refered to a client in the same manner that Imus did?
That is where this should have stayed...between Imus and his employers, and Imus and the Rutgers team -whom I believe he personally insulted.

But let's be clear here. This wasn't a Mister Rogers stereo-type here who said these things. This was a man who for nearly forty years has made his living in this country doing the sensational and being insulting. When he was hired by these major media outlets, it created a bit of a stir in the media world - a shock jock was going mainstream. Many wondered just how long he would last before this very thing happened. I believe he lasted much longer than most expected simply because most people understood that his humor was offensive, but it was humor. I agree with him that he went way over the line, but he did not act out of character - he was exactly who MSNBC and CBS hired him to be. I'll bet he doesn't even have a moral turpitude clause in his contract. I believe THIS particular attack was most offensive because the ones focused on were innocents. All they did was enter the public arena by being excellent at athletics. The words were much more offensive to us, I believe, because they had done nothing to deserve the comments. This is what made Imus' words so much more harsh. I believe his apologies should not be toward the American people at all...but sincerely and honestly and genuinely to the Rutgers team - and to them alone.

I have much harsher criticism actually for Sharpton and Jackson, and now for Hilary as well (she has moved a speaking engagement to Rutgers - hmmm, politically inspired....nnnaaaaahhhh!:rolleyes: ) but I will reserve that for another rant.

[lakewinola]

Why does Jackson, Sharpton and all these rappers still get press coverage when they are clearly as racist as you get? I'm not gonna defend Imus because what he said was repugnant, but I just don't liek the media attention that came out of it generated by jackson and Sharpton, two gusy that are just as bad, and many would argue, worse than Imus could ever be.

I don't know, probably for the same reason that Coulter appears on TV.

[PennSkinsFan]

and Imus appears on radio. It's all the same, except different treatment.

[BurgundyNGold]

What he said was rude and insensitive. Probably racist too. But I don't know that he has a history of these types of remarks or else we would have heard much more from him along these lines in the media well before now.

Here's the rundown...

He should he have been slammed for making the statement. He was.

He should have had to apologize to everyone involved. He did.

He should have been suspended. He was.

He could have lost the MSNBC gig. He did.

As for being fired? I think that's a little too much. Since when have we become a "one strike and you're out" society?

[TonyStewart]

What he said was rude and insensitive. Probably racist too. But I don't know that he has a history of these types of remarks or else we would have heard much more from him along these lines in the media well before now.

Here's the rundown...

He should he have been slammed for making the statement. He was.

He should have had to apologize to everyone involved. He did.

He should have been suspended. He was.

He could have lost the MSNBC gig. He did.

As for being fired? I think that's a little too much. Since when have we become a "one strike and you're out" society?
My dad used to watch and listen to him and says he jokes like this all the time but the difference is that the people he disses are in th spotlight and this time it was about some young girls that are just college students. It also is the growing trend of this country, being "politically correct."

I think he should have apologized only if he truly meant it to the Rutgers girls and the other involved persons to these girls AND tell everyone else to leave it be.

[akhhorus]

Imus might have the last laugh (http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/01/news/newsmakers/pluggedin_arango_imus.fortune/index.htm?)

For Imus, who made a career out of operating in the murky space between sophomoric humor and high-brow political talk, there is the little matter of about $40 million left on his contract with CBS Radio - whose boss Les Moonves fired the shock jock on April 12. CBS' lawyers contend Imus was fired for cause and not owed the rest of the money.

But Imus has hired one of the nation's premiere First Amendment attorneys, and the two sides are gearing up for a legal showdown that could turn on how language in his contract that encouraged the radio host to be irreverent and engage in character attacks is interpreted, according to one person who has read the contract.

The language, according to this source, was part of a five-year contract that went into effect in 2006 and that paid Imus close to $10 million a year. It stipulates that Imus be given a warning before being fired for doing what he made a career out of - making off-color jokes. The source described it as a "dog has one- bite clause." A lawsuit could be filed within a month, this person predicted.

[dj_stouty]

Imus might have the last laugh (http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/01/news/newsmakers/pluggedin_arango_imus.fortune/index.htm?)

Further proof that Les Mooves is a total idiot. He should have combed over Imus' contract for stipulations on termination of employment before firing him.

[CNYSkinFan]

Imus will get paid and guess what, CBS can afford it. Moonves is just showing bravado in public and two months from now he will quietly send Don a check.

[frankez99]

You know the saying: "any press is good press"....

What a windfall for Rutgers this year.....good Div I football results and the Imus flack!

Rutgers has hit the jackpot!

Unfortunately for womens basketball....the hub-bub died all too fast.....not to worry...there will other "victims" before long. How else is womens sports going to get ANY national spotlight? Let's face it, since the USA womans soccer team won the World Cup, it has been awfully silent for the ladies.

How devastating to these poor Rutgers girls; will they be able to recover?

Imus is (ney; was!) a talentless hack and deserves all that came his way. What he said was (on a national level) offensive. Bitch all you want about rap music, let's face it, it is really funneled to a demographic. Is there a double standard? Sure! Welcome to the world2007.